Celebrating a Mentor: Honouring A/Prof Alan Lam - May 22nd 2025
In May 2025, I had the privilege of joining a remarkable gathering to celebrate the birthday of A/Prof Alan Lam. It was an evening that brought together not only friends and colleagues but generations of surgeons whose careers have been shaped by Alan's teaching, mentorship, and leadership.
The room was filled with many of Alan's former fellows, representing Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and Singapore. It was a rare opportunity to see so many leaders in gynaecological surgery gathered in one place. Among those present were A/Prof Anusch Yazdani, Dr Danny Chou, Prof Sony Singh, A/Prof David Rosen, A/Prof George Condos, A/Prof Fong Yoke Fai, and Dr Claire Templeman, alongside many others who have gone on to become influential clinicians, educators, and innovators in their own right.
One of the most striking aspects of the evening was the reminder of Alan's extraordinary legacy. The collective expertise in the room reflected not only individual achievement but also the ripple effect of one person's commitment to teaching and mentorship. Looking around the room, it was impossible not to recognise that much of modern minimally invasive gynaecological surgery in our region has been influenced, directly or indirectly, by Alan's work.
The evening also brought together three Presidents of the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy & Surgery Society (AGES): Alan Lam, Anusch Yazdani, and myself. It was a fitting reflection of Alan's longstanding contribution to AGES and to the development of advanced gynaecological surgery across Australasia.
During the dinner, I had the opportunity to speak about Alan's remarkable journey and the impact he has had on so many of us:
"Alan's story is one of resilience, brilliance, and generosity. As a young Vietnamese immigrant, he arrived in Australia with a dream and determination that would shape not only his future but also the future of gynaecological surgery in this country and beyond. Over the decades, he has become a pioneer in minimally invasive pelvic surgery, a revered educator, mentor and friend to all of us in this room.For 25 years, Alan has run the CARE Master Classes, three to five week-long workshops each year, with five to eight attendees in each class. That amounts to many hundreds of senior registrars and specialists from Australia, New Zealand, and around the world who have come to learn, not just how to operate, but how to think, lead, and teach."
These words only begin to capture the breadth of Alan's influence. Many surgeons can teach operative technique. Far fewer teach judgement, professionalism, humility, and the importance of supporting the next generation. Alan has consistently done all of these things throughout his career.
For those of us fortunate enough to have trained with him, the lessons extended far beyond the operating theatre. He fostered curiosity, encouraged excellence, and created opportunities for others to succeed. His generosity with his time and knowledge has been extraordinary, and the success of his former fellows stands as a testament to that commitment.
The evening was filled with stories, laughter, and memories spanning decades. There was a shared appreciation for the friendships that have developed through training and collaboration, and for the enduring professional community that Alan helped create. It was a celebration not just of a birthday, but of a career dedicated to advancing women's healthcare and investing in people.
As I left the dinner, I was reminded that while surgical innovations and publications are important, perhaps the greatest legacy any surgeon can leave is the people they inspire and the lives they help shape. By that measure, Alan Lam's contribution is truly extraordinary.
Happy Birthday, Alan, and thank you for everything you have given to our profession.
Birthday Celebration for A/Prof Alan Lam
The Surgical Liniage of A/Prof Alam Lam
